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National Farmers Market Week: More reasons to love the farmers market

Happy National Farmers Market Week! For 18 years, the USDA has recognized local farmers by dedicating this week to them, so make your way over to your local farmers market and show them some support.

Texas Farm Girl has shared the environmental, health, and taste benefits of buying locally in the past, but in honor of NFMW, here are some other facts and benefits of farmers markets you might not have known:

One-third of the food U.S. farmers sell to consumers is sold locally.

Last year’s Census of Agriculture report noted that in 2015, more than 150,000 U.S. farms sold $8.7 billion worth of food to consumers, retailers, institutions, and distributors. About $3 billion of these sales were made directly to consumers through farmers markets, farm stands, and community-supported agriculture.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program participants redeemed more than $20 million in benefits buying from local farmers last year.

The USDA’s Food and Nutrition service has authorized nearly 7,000 farmers markets and individual farmers to accept SNAP (or food stamp) benefits. Additionally, the USDA’s Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive grant program is working to increase fresh produce purchases among SNAP participants by subsidizing them at farmers markets.

Three-fourths of farmers who sell at farmers markets meet or exceed organic standards.

A 2015 survey by the Farmers Market Coalition and American Farmland Trust found that almost half of farmers use used integrated pest management, information on the life cycle of pests, and their interaction with the environment to manage and prevent crop damage. Eighty-one percent of these farmers also used sustainable farming practices to ensure healthy conditions in their soil.

In 2008, farms producing local produce employed 13 full-time workers per $1 million in revenue earned, creating about 61,000 jobs.

A USDA’s Economic Research Service report found that farms not engaged in local food sales employed only 3 full-time workers per $1 million in revenue.

Farmers markets contribute about $9 billion a year to the U.S. economy.

Agriculture secretary Sonny Purdue noted this year that buying from local farmers has diversified farm incomes and supported other businesses by stimulating the local economy. He also noted that while it has positive economic benefits, farmers markets are also a great gathering place to help build a sense of community.

Innovative young farmers put agriculture in good hands

If you’ve read Texas Farm Girl’s blog on feeding 9 billion by 2050, you understand the importance of sustainable farming. But with almost half of American farmers being 55 or older and city dwellers being the majority of the world’s population, there could be cause for concern with the number of farmers able to sustain the world in the future.

But never fear, because young farmers are here!

There may be a rise in people moving to “the big city,” but there’s also a rise in students studying agricultural subjects in college. This is great news for the future of agriculture and food production—here’s why:

Education in sustainability

With today’s technology and sustainability needs, it’s important to understand the best tools and practices to produce as much food with as little negative environmental impact as possible. If you didn’t grow up on the farm, that’s okay. There opportunities to learn more and college is a great place to learn that.

A USA Today article noted that more colleges are shifting their courses to emphasize sustainability—whether those courses are in agricultural programs or not. With the increasing awareness for a more environmentally friendly world, this could be a factor in why more students are looking to pursue agriculture—they want to do their part in feeding the world sustainably. That, and it’s a great opportunity to reconnect with the outdoors.

Urban farming to feed cities

More people are moving to cities, and that means we need to feed more people in those concentrated areas. That’s where the rise in urban farming comes in.

You may have heard of a community farm or garden. Take, for example, the Iron Roots Urban Farm in Youngstown, Ohio. This is a 1.5 acre urban farm and training center part of the Lots of Green initiative, which re-purposes vacant land into gardens, parks, and planting sites. The goal is to get people involved in a real, working farm. Initiatives such as this not only provide local and sustainable food to urban communities, but they educate those communities to create a healthier environment.

The moral of the story? The future of agriculture will be in good hands with more people contributing in additional ways from the traditional farmer.

The benefits of hard work with family

Learning how to farm for Texas Farm Girl was handy—she had PawPaw there at every step to teach her farming methods and life lessons. That’s the benefit of a family farm. And according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, family farming business models like PawPaw and Texas Farm Girl’s are the backbone of agriculture.

Just over 40 percent of the nation’s land is farmland, consisting of about 2 million farms. About 97 percent of those farms are family-owned operations, with about 88 percent of all farms being small family farms. To sum up this information in the USDA’s words: “Food equals family.”

Family farming comes with many benefits—both for the consumer and the family involved. And working with your family in general, whether on the farm or in the office, comes with great lessons for your kids, too.

Feeding the World

According to the Association of Science-Technology Centers, family farmers produce 70 percent of the world’s food products. Additionally, small farms produce more than large-scale farms in terms of output per unit of land and energy use—important factors when considering the huge task of feeding 9 billion by 2050.

Family Farming on the Environment

Many family farming practices are known to be more resilient in their sustainability efforts. This is due in part to their knowledge of the specific environment around them. Just as PawPaw trained Texas Farm Girl how to adapt to the unpredictable Texas Panhandle weather, so too are other family farmers raised on farming practices specific their area’s weather and sustainability needs.

Growing up in the business

Whether you work with your family on the farm or in another field of business, there’s no bonding experience quite like hard work. When kids grow up working with you, they absorb the important skills and traits needed to succeed. Additionally, your kids will have a better grasp of what it took for you to provide for them because they’ve been by your side during the trials and tribulations. Just as Texas Farm Girl was there for PawPaw during the Texas Panhandle storm, PawPaw was there for Texas Farm Girl when she made a mistake. It’s that love, support, and common goal that keeps family farms and family businesses strong.

America runs on… corn?

It’s summertime, and that means it’s also barbecue season. There’s nothing better than sitting down with your family and friends to enjoy some delicious pulled pork, mac and cheese, and, of course, corn on the cob. But what you probably didn’t know about your plate is that your corn cob is not the only corn product you’re consuming—and it’s most likely not the first corn product you came in contact with that day.

Corn has become the secret staple to America’s everyday food and household products. In The Omnivore’s Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals, author Michael Pollen puts it simply: “Corn is what feeds the steer that becomes your steak. Corn feeds the chickens and the pig. Corn feeds the catfish raised in a fish farm. Corn-fed chickens laid the eggs. Corn feeds the dairy cows that produce the milk, cheese, and ice cream. Chicken nuggets are really corn wrapped up in more corn. If you wash down your chicken nuggets with almost any soft drink, you are drinking corn with your corn.”

It’s true: Corn is the most widely planted crop in America, covering more acres of the country than humans do. And it’s in almost everything. According to The Omnivore’s Dilemma, of the approximately 45,000 items in the average grocery store, more than a fourth of them contain corn, including non-food items such as toothpaste, cosmetics, diapers, trash bags, and batteries.

In short, corn is a cheap and easy resource to produce products for the masses, which is why it’s found its way into almost everything. And while corn could serve as a useful resource to increase production in preparation for the estimated 9 billion world population by 2050, we also have to be conscious of the diversity in our diets. Corn has some great nutritional value, including several vitamins and minerals, as well as lots of fiber, but too much of one thing is never good.

While it’s close to impossible to completely avoid corn, you can try to mix things up by incorporating non-corn, vegetable-heavy dishes into your family meals, as well as cut back on sodas, juices, and breads that contain high-fructose corn syrup. Your body will thank you for the variety of nutrient sources.

Sustainable eating in a growing population

By 2050, the world’s population is estimated to rise to 9 billion—that’s an entire 2 billion more people than occupy Earth now, and an entire 2 billion more stomachs to fill. With about 800 million people already suffering malnutrition at a 7 billion population, farmers have a big task ahead of them. Sustainable farming practices, of course, will be key to a healthy environment and population, but there are steps non-farmers can take as well to make the job a little easier.

Don’t bite more than you can chew

For every 100 calories of food grown, people only eat about 35 calories. Farmers work way too hard to let so much go to waste, especially when there are so many in need of food. It’s close to impossible to not waste any food, but you can at least be conscious of how much you and your family typically eat. For example, you could take note of the groceries you consistently end up throwing out so you have a better idea of how much to buy or what not to buy when you’re at the store.

Additionally, cutting back on meat could give back more of those aforementioned calories back to people. Animals need to eat too, and if people are eating less meat, that means less animals farmers need to raise and feed, thus, more crops to go to people instead of animals. While you don’t necessarily need to completely cut meat or other animal products out of your diet, try experimenting with plant-based proteins. It can be a fun way to introduce new and healthy foods to your family, as well as a great way to get in the habit of getting more fruits and vegetables from your local farmer’s market. Here are a few resources to spark some creativity for a plant-based family meal this week:

How you can be a farmer, too

Sustainable farming is one of the many important themes Texas Farm Girl teaches. But not everyone gets to spend their days under the hot Texas sun or at Global Blue Technologies. We all have different passions and occupations—it’s what makes the world go ‘round. But just because you aren’t a farmer doesn’t mean you can’t play a part in sustainable farming. Here are some ways you can help.

Buy Local

We learned from Texas Farm Girl’s blog a few weeks ago how much better farmer’s market food is for the environment (and how much yummier it is). It might not be plausible to get all your groceries at the farmer’s market, but you can at least figure out what your community offers. That way, you can plan your grocery store and farmer’s market trips accordingly. Here are some sites to help you find a farmer’s market in your neighborhood:

Like, your backyard, local. Just because you live in the city doesn’t mean you can’t grow your own little farm. Whether you have a few herb plants by the window or a whole patch of veggies in your backyard, there are plenty of ways you can grow your own greens. Here are some ideas and tips:

At Global Blue Technologies, Texas Farm Girl learned about how Eduardo and his team are changing up the ways of how shrimp are caught and raised. GBT wastes no water, protects its shrimp from pests and diseases without the use of additional chemicals, hormones, or antibiotics, and ensures no other sea creature is harmed by nets.

Being conscious of where your shrimp and fish is from could help raise the demand for sustainably raised seafood. Support farms like GBT to help bring awareness.

Alongside sustainable seafood purchasing, here are a few organizations you can get involved in to protect and clean our oceans:

U.N. Features “Texas Farm Girl” Aquaculture Book

“Texas Farm Girl: Aquaculture Farming” is now for sale at the United Nation’s bookstore at its New York headquarters. The one-of-a-kind children’s book features Global Blue Technologies unique approach to bio-secure, recirculating aquaculture system.

Rebecca Crownover, executive director of the International Foundation for the Conservation of Natural Resources (IFCNR) attended “The Oceans Conference” at the UN complex June 5-9th. The Oceans Conference is a gathering of world delegates focused on the conservation and sustainable development of the oceans, seas, and marine resources.

Rebecca Crownover with Iceland Ministry for Foregin Affairs

Curaçao Policy Advisor Arelys Alves

While at the UN conference, Ms. Crownover introduced the latest edition of the Texas Farm Girl children’s book series to world experts concerned with the conservation and sustainability of all aspects of the planet’s oceans. Among them that she met were the Hon. Jose Maria Figueres, former President of Costa Rica; key policy officials from Iceland, Senegal, and Curacao; as well as one of the most celebrated young marine scientists Grace Young.

“Texas Farm Girl: Aquaculture Farming” sits on the shelf of the U.N. bookstore

The UN bookstore staff seized on the fact that Ms. Crownover’s book is not only the first but also the only book aimed at educating very young children about the existence and importance of aquaculture. “Texas Farm Girl: Aquaculture Farming” is now a featured offering on the store’s shelves.

Texas Farm Girl Goes to the United Nations

This week is BIG – huge even. This is the week of the United Nations Ocean Conference and yours truly will be attending at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City. I’m leaving the great state of Texas and headed to New York for a cause that’s incredibly important – environmental advocacy.

The Ocean Conference is a gathering of top industry leaders, UN delegates, government representatives, civil society organizations and many other groups and individuals with one goal: to reverse the decline in the health of our oceans.

While the conference is a platform for all types of ideas, potential solutions and plans to help, one of the focus points is how sustainable Aquaculture can play an important part of improving the health of our oceans. That’s where Texas Farm Girl: Aquaculture Farming can come in and make a difference with a sustainable solution.

Aquaculture farmers like Global Blue Technologies produces seafood in a sustainable way that takes pressure off our oceans. Global Blue produces shrimp on their farm that are not only delicious, but actually help preserve the oceans and our environment – which is exactly what The Ocean Conference and the UN Environmental Programme are striving towards.

Texas Farm Girl on Agriculture Education

Corn, cotton and canola – oh my!

The Texas Farm Girl grows all kinds of crops on her farm. Female farmers are in the minority, but we can help introduce farming to kids of all ages and change the tide. In addition to reading, writing and arithmetic, let’s teach our kids all about the wonders of agriculture.

From aquaculture to agriculture, the Texas Farm Girl series can introduce farming to our kids early on. When children know where their foods come from, they can begin to make healthier lifestyle choices that will stay with them well into adulthood. From strawberry picking to planting your own garden, there are a ton of ways to teach your youngsters to value fresh fruits and vegetables.

Talk to your kids about the value of farming. With easy to read fun facts and a story that will engage your little ones from the very first page, the Texas Farm Girl series is the perfect way to teach your kids about sustainability. Who knows? They might want to become farmers when they grow up!

Treat Yourself and the Earth – Shop at Farmer’s Markets

The sun is shining, kids are laughing, and you’re biting into the sweetest, crispest apple you’ve ever tasted – you can’t deny the farmer’s market is one of the most enjoyable times of the week. It almost makes you wonder why you ever decided to step inside a cold and boring grocery store instead of stepping outside for some fresh air, vitamin D, and delicious produce from Farmer Joe down the road.

There’s a reason you start craving fruits and veggies more after tasting that super crisp apple. Most produce you get from a chain grocery store is picked before it’s fully ripe, gassed to stimulate ripeness, and shipped to you from thousands of miles away. At the farmer’s market, your neighborhood farmer picked your produce at peak freshness right before he or she brought it down the road to you. The difference is simple and delicious, and the farmers work careful and hard for that result — themes Texas Farm Girl teaches you a lot about.

And your taste buds aren’t the only thing to benefit from locally grown food; the environment could use a break from chain stores’ processes as well. Transporting produce across states and countries emits one billion metric tons of carbon-dioxide into the environment every year. Additionally, the EPA estimated that 90 percent of the 11.9 million tons of plastic produced to package this food went to a landfill. This is detrimental to our environment, and in turn, detrimental to our health, as smog resulted from these trucks and locomotives are responsible for a majority of the cancer threat air pollution has created in urban areas.

Statistics aside, there’s nothing wrong with opting for cheap and convenient. But when you have the option, give your local farmer’s a try. But when you have the option, give your local farmers a try.The community, the environment, and your taste buds will thank you.

Agriculture Education and the Future!

Plows, harvests, yields…there is so much that goes into living and working on a farm. From choosing the right crops for the climate to handling the soil, those who work in the industry have much to learn. Rebecca Crownover, author of Texas Farm Girl, was taught by her grandfather to care for the crops and the Earth, but many kids aren’t so lucky.

With the population booming and modernization occurring at a faster rate than ever, caring for the planet is paramount. Responsible agricultural practices are one way to do this. Like math and English, children need to be taught the basics of growing food and working with Earth.

This is one of the goals of Texas Farm Girl. Each one of the books explores different topics: responsibility in the face of making a mistake while planting seeds, positive thinking while handling destructive weather, and, in the latest installment, Texas Farm Girl: Aquaculture Farming, open-mindedness when exploring a new topic.

While turning through the pages and soaking in the words and pictures of the Texas Farm Girl books, kids and their parents will also be delighted to see snippets of vocabulary related to agriculture. The audience will learn the basics of farming while absorbing life lessons.

Attention Friends and Farming Fans!

You might have heard the Texas Farm Girl series has a new addition. I am thrilled to announce the release of Texas Farm Girl: Aquaculture Farming! The third book in the TFG series continues the tradition of agricultural education for little ones, this time focusing on aquaculture farming.

Aquaculture farming is the growing of aquatic life and foods in water. Shrimp, salmon, tilapia, and even vegetation can be produced through aquaculture farming. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, more than 50% of the seafood eaten globally is produced through aquaculture.

The seafood supplies found in our oceans are depleting rapidly. In order to fulfill the demand, we need to rely more heavily on responsible aquaculture farming as a source of seafood and focus on preserving Earth’s natural resources.

Fishing and more traditional methods of aquaculture farming can often cause irreparable damage to natural ecosystems, which is why Texas Farm Girl partnered with Global Blue Technologies to help educate our future farmers!

Global Blue Technologies has created an amazing solution through over 20 years of research and application. Their aquaculture farming technique focuses on reducing damage to the environment. They are the world’s largest biosecure recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) that has ZERO discharge of waste to the ecosystem. Their special way of recirculating the water allows them to reuse it over and over without damaging anything downstream. We can help continue their efforts through education. Texas Farm Girl: Aquaculture Farming aims to do just that!

Join Texas Farm Girl and PawPaw on a new adventure as they explore the Global Blue Technologies aquaculture farm and learn all about farming shrimp. On the tour, she is excited to find out how the farm is making an impact on the world with the environmentally friendly way they are raising shrimp.

Follow Texas Farm Girl’s latest adventure and learn how striving to make a little difference can make a big impact in the world.

First Aquaculture Book for Children – EVER!

Press Release

March 20, 2017 Boston, MA…“Texas Farm Girl Aquaculture Farming” is the first of its kind, a true children’s book on “farming in water” for parents and children. Award winning children’s book Author, Rebecca Crownover’s latest publication in her “Texas Farm Girl” series introduces the importance of aquaculture to youngsters (and their parents reading to them) using bright illustrations and a simple, direct narrative told from the perspective of a young girl and her grandfather.The “Texas Farm Girl” collection, published by Mascot Books, exposes pre-school and primary school age children to the hard work, dedication and importance of farming, first on land and now in huge covered aquatic ponds.

“I try to educate very young readers to life experiences and leave them with a moral that, I hope, will stay with them throughout their journey to adulthood,” said Ms. Crownover.

Crownover is not only a prolific writer but also a mother and a farmer. Her commitment to sustainable farming and conservation of the Earth’s resources led her to becoming a director of the International Foundation for the Conservation of Natural Resources (IFCNR).

The official launch of “Texas Farm Girl Aquaculture Farming” is scheduled for March 20th and 21st in Boston, Massachusetts where she intends to present a copy of her book to Governor Charlie Baker and leaders of the House and Senate. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts recognized fish and the oceans in their State House – “the sacred cod”.

The Seafood Expo North America (SENA) is the largest seafood show in the United States and a showcase for the way protein will be produced to feed a hungry world in the developing world.